title: Effects of alcohol on the despair response to peer separation in rhesus monkeys.
abstract: In humans, alcoholism and depression are often interrelated. This study examines the effects of alcohol on peer separation-induced despair in rhesus monkeys, a proposed nonhuman primate model of depression. Alcohol, at three different dose levels, or placebo was administered to rhesus monkeys undergoing repeated peer separation. Low-dose alcohol (1 g/kg/day) decreased separation-induced despair, whereas high-dose alcohol (3 g/kg/day) exacerbated the despair response as compared to placebo. This biphasic effect of alcohol on the despair response may be analogous to similar effects of alcohol on depression in humans.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001010:Anxiety, Separation / Q000523:psychology*; D001259:Ataxia / Q000139:chemically induced; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D010919:Placebos; D012919:Social Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D014202:Tremor / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D000431:Ethanol